We are in the midst of January and I hope you are doing well! In my first blog post of 2020, I promised to provide you with a variety of gut-loving recipes that are supportive of any new year’s resolution you may have. So far, we have tackled caffeine intake with my Golden Latte, soothing and filling Roasted Cauliflower Soup, and last week’s grab and go breakfast option: Apple Pie Overnight Oats.
For some of us, a new year may also mean cutting back or giving up alcohol. So for this week, I thought I would provide you with two great alternatives that come together in minutes but do not leave you “hanging” as the person-holding-that-water-glass at a party (does anyone know what I am talking about?!). Enter: The Ginger-Orange and Mint-Berry Mocktail.
The Ginger-Orange Mocktail is more of a brunch – mimosa kind of affair. The ginger provides you with just about the right hint of heat, whereas the orange not only makes the drink look like sunshine in a glass but also provides depths of zesty flavor. The added sparkling water just provides that right amount of bubble 🍊🥂.
The Mint-Berry Mocktail is more sophisticated and perhaps less bold in flavor in comparison to the Ginger-Orange Mocktail but absolutely delicious! Do ensure that you mule the mint a bit to draw out the flavor. Together with the berries, it will provide you with just the right hints of of sweet and freshness. This drink benefits from sitting for a while before being drunk so that the flavors can truly develop and sink in 💫. Besides – look at those colors 🤣😍.
Why is this Ginger-Orange and Mint-Berry Mocktail good for you?
Orange
Oranges are a great source of Vitamin C, Thiamine, Folate, and Potassium. Vitamin C helps with your overall immunity, particularly during winter months. Thiamine and Folate are also Vitamins, otherwise known as Vitamin B1 and B9 respectively. Vitamin B1 is responsible for helping our body to turn food into energy. Folate is important to create red and white blood cells in the bone marrow. It also helps with the production of DNA. Folate is especially important during periods of rapid growth, for example, pregnancy. Last but not least, Potassium is a mineral that helps with muscle control, your heartbeat and regulating your breathing. Not bad for a “humble” orange – right?! 😉
Kombucha
Kombucha. It is such a strange word 😂. Kombucha is basically fermented tea. Due to its fermented state, Kombucha contains probiotics – also known as good-gut bacteria. Kombucha appears to have antioxidant effects on the body, especially if it is being made with green tea. There are also signs that Kombucha may kill harmful bacteria. This is due to the acetic acid that gets produced during the fermentation process. The research on Kombucha is still developing – in the meantime, I am finding it highly delicious 🥰.
Mint
Mint is known for its cooling and refreshing taste and is a great addition to your diet. I mean, who does not love a freshly brewed mint tea?! 🙋🏼♀️. The oils in peppermint can have a soothing effect on the digestive tract and relieve feelings of irritable bowel syndrome. If you are feeling constipated or have an upset tummy, mint is also the herb to call upon. There are even some initial studies showing that smelling mint essential oil may boost your brain function.
Grated ginger Squeezing oranges Squeezing ginger juice into glass
How can I adjust this recipe to my dietary requirements?
Both the Ginger-Orange and Mint-Berry Mocktail are plant-based and vegan. If you are paleo and are not drinking kombucha, try swapping it with sparkling water.
And there you have it for this week 🤗. I hope you are enjoying this week’s dive into Mocktails and that you get a chance to try out these lovely alternatives to an alcoholic option. If you are making this recipe, feel free to leave me a comment below or over on Instagram under @life_and_lemons_foodblog.
Ginger-Orange and Mint-Berry Mocktail
Course: DrinksCuisine: EuropeanDifficulty: Easy1
servings10
minutesThese Ginger-Orange and Mint-Berry Mocktail are for those days where you are not craving alcohol but still want something delicious and satisfying to drink.
Ingredients
- For the Ginger-Orange Mocktail
1 thumb-sized piece ginger
1 tsp maple syrup
Juice of 1 orange
Sparkling water
- For the Mint-Berry Mocktail
1 tsp coconut sugar
about two handful of mixed berries (can be frozen)
5 – 8 mint leaves
kombucha, ginger ale, or sparkling water to mix
How to
- For the Ginger-Orange Mocktail: Grate the ginger and then take into your hand and press into a glass. This should produce about 1 – 2 tsp of ginger juice (if you are making a larger batch, you could juice the ginger). Add the maple syrup and orange juice to the glass and mix. Fill up with sparkling water and ENJOY!
- For the Mint-Berry Mocktail: Add the coconut sugar, mint, berries to a glass. Be sure to mule the mint with a wooden spoon a bit, in order to release some of the mint essential-oils. Add kombucha, ginger ale, or sparkling water and ENJOY!
